MURFREESBORO – Perhaps the best thing an MTSU player can do this preseason camp is remain unnoticed.

Several position competitions opened up on the first day of practice Monday, and head coach Rick Stockstill reminded players about what he's looking for in each: Stay off the coaches' radar.

"It's no different from quarterback to any other position," Stockstill said. "(The chosen starter) will be the guy that is going to be the most consistent, the guy that's going to make plays and not give up plays. We can't have missed assignments. We can't have penalties. With the quarterbacks, you can't have turnovers. You have got to consistently perform at a high level. Whoever does that the best over these next three weeks will be the guy that will be out there."

Several starting positions are up for grabs in camp. Quarterback, a couple of wide receiver spots, defensive tackle, both cornerbacks and punter are the most competitive. Other positions like offensive guard, free safety and running back could turn into battles for snaps later in camp.

Stockstill said, regardless of the position, the safest pick will likely win the starting job – those carrying the fewest question marks when the season opener arrives against Savannah State on Aug. 30.

"Whatever position it is, when you put him out there as a coach you know what you're going to get," Stockstill said. "This guy is not going to have a missed assignment. He knows exactly what he's supposed to do."

Two words, trust and consistency, peppered players' comments about the coaches' expectations in such competitions.

Senior Khari Burke is battling fellow senior Chris Sharpe, junior Jared Singletary and some youngsters for the two cornerback spots. Cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis told Burke what will earn him the job.

"One thing, and that's trust," Burke said. "Trust is such a big thing. Trust is a huge thing with coach Ellis. He won't put us out there if he doesn't trust us to do the right thing.

"He wants to see consistency and leadership. At corner, that means getting the play call the right way and reading your keys. Do your assignment, and don't worry about someone else's."

It's a similar description at quarterback, where Stockstill and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner want the signal-caller with the least hiccups. All three quarterbacks – sophomore Austin Grammer, redshirt freshman AJ Erdely and true freshman Brent Stockstill – tossed some errant passes on day one. There were some interceptions and even a few fumbles when pass-rushers stripped the quarterbacks from their blind side.

Every such error will be counted in the three-man competition, as well as dropped passes in a rebuilt receiving corps. The latter especially irked Rick Stockstill on Monday.

"It's just not OK to drop the ball," he said. "We are going to demand perfection every day. I have come to realize there are some jitters and newness, and they have to fight through that. But there were some easy catches today that they just dropped because of lack of concentration."

Contact Adam Sparks at 615-278-5174 or sparks@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamSparks.